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Saturday

TOPEKA, Kan. – The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series tackled the quarter mile strip at Heartland Park Topeka with hundreds of racers going head to head in today’s elimination rounds for the annual event. Winners were crowned in Top Alcohol Dragster and Funny Car, Comp Eliminator and the rest of the classes that make up the nationwide series.

Many of these racers will head to Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis next weekend where they will meet up with the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, Aug. 27-Sept. 1 for the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals. The West Central division Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series is back in action the following weekend, Sept. 5-7 at Tri-State Raceway in Earlville, Iowa.

Topekan Dustin Thulin has been a factor throughout his six-year career in Heartland Park Topeka’s Saturday Showdown dirt track series, but Thulin is still looking for his first championship, with last year’s third-place finish in the B Modified class his highest ever.

But if Thulin can continue the hot pace he’s set thus far in 2014 his first title could be in his future.

Thulin has won the past two weeks in the No. 45 and has three wins on the year while building a 73-point lead over Brian Murphy in the B Mod standings.

“It’s been pretty good the last few weeks,” Thulin said. “We’re kind of starting to hit our stride we feel like anyway.”

Some drivers like to avoid championship talk but Thulin admits that winning a title is one of his primary goals.

“It’s been a goal for a couple of years now,” he said. “We haven’t always been able to commit 100 percent as far as being there every week, but we’ve kind of chased it a couple of years now and it’s definitely a goal. It’s 100 percent the goal.”

With the season right at the halfway point, Thulin’s key to holding on to the points lead will be consistency while also getting to victory lane whenever the opportunity presents itself.

“(Consistency’s) probably not been my strongest point,” Thulin said. “I’ve always been kind of a guy that’s going to go for the win at all costs. In year’s past that has probably hindered me as far as winning the championship.

“But right now, with it being as early as it is, I’m focused on winning but obviously finishing is the biggest goal and making sure you get to the end.”

And Thulin knows that there are plenty of competitors in the B Mod class capable of making a run at the title he so badly wants to win.

“It’s a real strong class,” Thulin said. “Generally you have at least two or three former champions running against you every night in that class.

“You’ve got some guys who come and go and there’s a couple that people may not know their name as well but they’re real strong. It’s always a fun battle for us.”

HPT.com will feature racers throughout the 2014 season. If you have someone you would like to see spotlighted send details and contact information to rick.peterson@cjonline.com – Rick can also be reached on Twitter @peterson_rick

Today was an exciting day at Heartland Park with John Force stepping into the Funny Car qualifying lead, J.R. Todd (Top Fuel) and Vincent Nobile (Pro Stock) also qualifying as leaders in this year’s 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event. Mello Yellow qualifying will resume Saturday at 1:30 PM with eliminations and qualifying taking place in the morning

We’re sure to have more great races tomorrow but wanted to bring you some housekeeping news as well.